Civilization's Tranquility Disrupted: Alfred N.Muggins' Work Highlights Events Post-Goldrush, Pre-Hurricanes (Including Floods, Forest Fires, and Aircraft Calamities)
In the four-year tenure of Donald Trump as the President of the United States, his trade policies left a significant mark on the global economy, particularly with countries like Canada.
Trump's approach to trade was characterised by imposing tariffs to reduce trade deficits and enforce reciprocal tariffs. In 2018, this approach led to a trade war with China, as reciprocal tariffs caused heightened tensions and disrupted global supply chains and trade flows. The tariffs targeted Chinese imports, aiming to reduce the U.S. trade deficit with China and encourage onshoring of manufacturing.
With Canada, Trump pushed for renegotiation of trade agreements, notably the United States–Mexico–Canada Agreement (USMCA), replacing NAFTA. The negotiations involved tariff threats to push Canada towards terms favourable to U.S. economic interests. The tariffs and renegotiations affected trade volumes and introduced uncertainty into the economic relationship between the U.S. and Canada.
Trump's family has a personal connection to Canada. His grandfather participated in the Goldrush in Canada's Yukon, making money from stores, an inn, and the miners. Later, Trump's family transferred into property development in the early 20th Century.
Trump's trade policies also had environmental implications. His disregard for the environment was evident in his promotion of drilling and his ignoring of the impact on national parks and the environment.
In addition, Trump's imposition of tariffs caused chaos in the stock market, and his refusal to acknowledge global warming was reflected in his policies. However, it is important to note that some wealthy individuals took advantage of the market chaos by selling and buying shares.
Trump's trade policies aimed to reshape global trade relationships by emphasising reciprocal tariffs and trade deficits, which led to increased trade tensions, shifts in supply chains, and uncertainty. The modifications and executive orders, such as the one signed in 2025 adjusting tariff rates, continued to reflect this approach by applying customised tariffs to certain countries, maintaining pressure to secure "fair, balanced, and reciprocal trade relationships."
This contentious approach to trade has been a topic of controversy, 55 years after a famous album by Neil Young, who, along with Joni Mitchell, Rush, Max Webster, The Guess Who, and Shania Twain, are all Canadian musicians. It is worth noting that Graham Nash of Crosby Stills Nash and Young is from the UK.
Despite the initial imposition of high tariffs, Trump later lowered them due to financial constraints. He was forced to bring most of the tariffs back down to 10%. As the world economy navigates choppy waters, it remains to be seen what long-term effects Trump's trade policies will have.
[1] Source: Office of the United States Trade Representative (USTR)
- Trump's trade policies, characterized by imposing tariffs and enforcing reciprocal tariffs, left a significant impact on business worldwide, particularly with countries like Canada.
- In addition to his trade policies, Trump's disregard for the environment was evident in his promotion of drilling and ignoring the impact on national parks and the environment.
- Trump's approach to trade was not only a matter of economics, but also had implications for science, as his refusal to acknowledge global warming was reflected in his policies.
- On a separate note, the Trump family has a personal connection to Canada, with Trump's grandfather participating in the Goldrush in Canada's Yukon.
- Trump's trade policies and their associated uncertainties created chaos in the stock market, but this chaos offered opportunities for wealthy individuals to take advantage through buying and selling shares.
- The contentious approach to trade adopted by Trump has been a topic of debate and controversy, echoing the themes in a famous album by Neil Young, a Canadian musician, half a century after its release.
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